Flanked by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley and club chairman Chris Mort, Keegan stepped back into St James' Park for the first time in three years and said: "I am back home. It is my third time, but I am obviously delighted to be back. It's great."

As Keegan got used to his new surroundings and met the players in the dressing-room after last night's game, Shearer admitted that he could be tempted to become part of the new manager's staff. "It is my club so if he was to ring me up I would certainly speak to him - and that is not a yes or a no," Shearer said. "But I would speak to him without a doubt. I would be foolish not to because I am sure that he will get the place rocking.

Related Articles

"First and foremost I don't think they have had time to think about it [the backroom staff]. Kevin will make his own decisions. I hope he does well because I am a fan."

Shearer, touted as a possible successor to Sam Allardyce, continued: "I don't see myself as a No 2, but I was never really a serious possibility [to succeed Allardyce] because they wanted a manager with experience.

"They rang after sacking Sam and said that they were looking for someone with experience. I would have talked to them because I will do anything to help them. It remains an ambition to manage some day."

Mort said: "How tough has it been? It's a process we've had to go through but we got the right man in the end. Mike and I are absolutely thrilled because we didn't think we would be able to get Kevin back here. He's absolutely the right man for the job."